Chartering an aircraft may not be something you'd consider out of the blue but there's a practical reason people decide to do so instead of traveling commercial. Believe it or not, you even stand to save money if you're a frequent flyer.

What you can expect

So how is money saved? Aren't charters very expensive? Charters are not offered at throwaway prices but they're surprisingly affordable for frequent flyers who spend thousands of dollars on business trips or vacations. Commercial aircrafts are huge and ferry numerous passengers. The ticket cost is inclusive of refreshments and services such as cabin crew attending to the few needs passengers have. With a chartered aircraft, service is excellent and personalized because you're the only customer onboard. The same service is accorded if you're traveling in a group.

Aside from the impeccable service, you get to really relax in a chartered craft unlike in a commercial craft where leg and overhead room is limited and you must contend with the chatter of dozens of passengers. Chartered craft are designed differently too with more room for luxury and style. Business meetings can be conducted, if necessary, or you can have a celebration if traveling for leisure or you've just closed a major business deal.

Now that we've convinced you to consider chartered services for your next trip, let's look at how you can ensure you get the best service for your money.

Fee structure: Charters will either charge by the mile or by the hour. What decides the real cost is the type of aircraft, size, and amenities. Luxury components also affect fees because they're not a standard in some types of crafts.

Estimating the cost of chartering a plane is difficult because there are too many deciding factors. What you must make sure of is that the potential for variation of fees is cited at the outset so you can be prepared. Extra charges for landing fees and hangar storage should also be included.

The aircraft and safety: Enquire about the aircraft and pay a personal visit to the hangar. You may not know much about planes but you can gauge how well-maintained the interior is, how courteous the staff is and whether the craft can accommodate your requirements. A check with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority will also show up any discrepancies with the charter such as good or poor flight safety record, ratings etc.

Chartered aircrafts are very secure in terms of you being able to hold confidential meetings and talks. You control who's onboard right from passengers to cabin crew. Your flight itinerary is confidential as well unlike with commercial airline schedules.

Pilot's license: The pilot in charge of the craft must have a CASA certificate detailing his or her operation in terms of agency standards, management control, aircraft maintenance etc. He or she must be properly licensed and authorized to pilot the type of aircraft you choose. Ongoing training programs are constantly organized by aviation authorities and the pilot must be up-to-date on his or her training.

Choose charter operators, not brokers: Charter operators are regulated by a central aviation or transport governing body and so have stricter standards to live up to. Not so for brokers. Some brokers do indeed maintain very high standards but it's faster and simpler for you to choose reputed operators.